DENVER, Colo. – June 4, 2008 – Lend Lease announced today that the City of Aurora has approved the Framework Development Plan for Horizon Uptown. This major project milestone for Aurora’s first compact, mixed-use sustainable community outlines land use and density for the 503-acre development. Approval of the plan clears the way for Lend Lease to begin work on the first site plan for the project located at the southwest corner of Interstate 70 and E-470.
Upon build out, Horizon Uptown will be home to roughly 8,000 residents and provide employment for an estimated 11,000 workers in the growing northeast corridor. Plans call for five distinct neighborhoods with 3,800 residential units; 1.3 million square feet of retail space, including a town center and large scale regional shopping; and up to 4 million square feet of commercial office space.
“We envision that Horizon Uptown will set a new standard for development in Aurora and the surrounding area,” said Gregory Ochis, project director for Horizon Uptown. “I am excited to enter into the next phase of pre-development. With each step, we get closer to bringing our vision to life.”
Horizon Uptown is one of a select group of communities that was handpicked to participate in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) Pilot Program. Once complete, the community will be a model for a variety of environmental, community, educational, economic and technological initiatives.
“Ensuring Horizon Uptown sets a new standard of sustainability from a social, economic and environmental standpoint continues to be a top priority as we determine all aspects of the community,” continued Ochis.
Next up for Lend Lease and the Horizon Uptown development is the creation and approval of a contextual site plan, which will outline infrastructure and landscape improvements for the first phase of the project. This plan is scheduled to be complete later this year.
About Horizon Uptown
Horizon Uptown will have up to 4 million square feet of office space, targeting the healthcare, aerospace, defense-related, professional/scientific/technical services and administrative/support services. In addition to a commercial component, Horizon Uptown will have approximately 1.3 million square feet of retail space (neighborhood, large format and lifestyle) and 3,800 residential units. Horizon Uptown is also among a select group of sustainable developments nationwide chosen by the U.S. Green Building Council to participate in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) Pilot Program. Projects will meet standards for urban planning, green construction, education and job opportunities, and transportation and technology initiatives.
About Lend Lease
Lend Lease Americas is a subsidiary of Lend Lease Corporation, a leading global property specialist that has developed, constructed and managed market-leading real estate projects around the world for more than 50 years. Lend Lease is one of the leading fully integrated property solutions providers in the world. Our understanding of property enables us to maximize the best property outcomes through the full range of economic and market cycles. Sustainability has been an integral part of our culture for more than 50 years. Lend Lease is included in all three globally recognized sustainability reputation indices: 2008 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, 2008 Goldman Sachs JBWere Climate Leadership Index and 2009 Global 100. In the United States, Lend Lease is a market leader in public-private partnerships through its Actus Lend Lease business, which manages and operates in excess of 40,000 military homes and has a significant investment in King of Prussia, one of the nation’s premium retail malls.